The director of the United Nations’ health organization stated on Wednesday that holiday gatherings and the prevalence of the dominant variant worldwide were responsible for a rise in COVID-19 transmission last month.

In December, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that there were almost 10,000 fatalities reported and a 42% increase in hospital admissions in nearly 50 countries, primarily in Europe and the Americas. This information was shared by countries that experienced similar trends.

The director-general of the World Health Organization stated to reporters in Geneva that while 10,000 monthly deaths is lower than the highest point of the pandemic, it is still an unacceptable number of preventable deaths.

He stated that there was a definite increase in cases in locations that have not been reporting. He urged governments to maintain surveillance and ensure continued availability of treatments and vaccines.

Tedros stated that the JN.1 variant has become the most prevalent globally. This variant, known as omicron, can still be somewhat defended against by current vaccines.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the main technical expert for COVID-19 at the World Health Organization, mentioned a rise in respiratory illnesses around the world caused by not only the coronavirus, but also by influenza, rhinovirus, and pneumonia.

She stated that we anticipate those patterns to persist throughout January and the winter season in the northern part of the world. However, she also mentioned a rise in COVID-19 cases in the southern hemisphere, where it is currently summer.

This winter, we are experiencing the usual symptoms of coughing, sniffles, fever, and fatigue, but according to Van Kerkhove, there is a higher occurrence of multiple types of pathogens circulating at the same time.

It is advised by WHO officials that individuals should receive vaccinations when available, wear masks, and ensure proper ventilation in indoor spaces.

According to Dr. Michael Ryan, who leads the emergency response team at WHO, while the vaccines may not prevent infection, they greatly decrease the likelihood of hospitalization or death.

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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group provides support to the Associated Press Health and Science Department. The AP is solely responsible for all of its content.